Florabunda rose named ‘Hadbal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct rose cultivar of the Florabunda class characterized by: having stems without prickles; white stripes lightly scattered on pink flowers; clusters of three to six flowers; very rapid rebloom cycle; upright bushy plants of medium height; being well covered with medium green matte foliage; with excellent resistance to powdery and downy mildew, rust and blackspot. 
     The generic name of this plant is designated as ‘Hadbal’. It is being marketed under the commercial name of ‘Smooth Ballerina’.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant:var. ‘Hadbal’.

SPECIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of roseplant of the Florabunda class, which was originated by my crossing ‘PinkEmpress’ as the seed parent with the unnamed seedling ‘(Blue Moon×RollerCoaster)’ as the pollen parent. The observations herein stated were madeof the original seven year old plant during the year 2003. Pollination(June, 96); the period of embryo maturation; stratification at 39degrees F. for 90 days; and germination (February 97) were performed inOrinda, Calif.

Among the novel characteristics possessed by the new cultivar whichdistinguish it from:

(a) All other cultivars of which I am aware are:

-   -   -   (1) Prickles being absent from any stems.        -   (2) White stripes lightly scattered on pink flowers.        -   (3) Flowers in clusters of 3 to 6 blooms.        -   (4) Very consistent free bloomer.        -   (5) Bushy, upright plant, covered with medium green matte            foliage.        -   (6) Very resistant to powdery and downy mildew, rust and            blackspot.

(b) Seed parent: Pink hybrid tea having prickles.

Pollen parent: Striped white on red, tall florabunda with prickles.Asexual reproduction of the new rose cultivar by budding onto therootstock ‘Dr. Huey’, as performed at Wasco, Calif., shows that theaforementioned and all other distinctive characteristics come true toform and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The accompanying photograph shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of the new cultivar in different stages ofdevelopment and as depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new cultivar, with colorterminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.C.C.). The terminology used in the color description hereinrefers to plate numbers such as: ‘Yellow Group 16A’ in Fan 1 of TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Seed parent.—IRAR registered: ‘HADEMP’; commercial name:            ‘Pink Empress’, U.S. Plant Patent — None.        -   Pollen parent.—Seedling — ‘(Blue Moon×Rollercoaster)’.

The following observations were made of the original plant ‘Hadbal’grown outdoors, in Orinda, Contra Costa County, Calif.

-   Inflorescense:-   Blooming habit of flower:-   A. Bud:    -   -   ( 1 ) Size.—Sepals enclosed, 16-20 mm from base of sepals to            top of bud.        -   ( 2 ) Form.—Ovoid; Diameter: mature bud, sepals enclosed —            16 to 20 mm.        -   ( 3 ) Sepals.—28 to 30 mm in length; 8 to 10 mm extension            beyond bud; no serration shown on sepal edges. Generally 3            out of 5 sepals show appendages on each side, 2 to 3 mm            length. Sepals show glandular development on edges. Heavy            cotton matting on inner surface, fine matting on outer            surfaces. Outside color: near to Yellow Green 146B with            slight shadings of Greyed Red Group 181B; inside: Greyed            Green Group 196B.        -   ( 4 ) Peduncle.—Length — 6 to 8 cm. Surface — smooth, some            fine hairs, a few glandular hairs, no prickles. Strength —            firm. Color — near Yel. Green 146C with shades of Greyed Red            Group 181B.        -   ( 5 ) Receptacle.—Shape — Oblong, 6-8 mm diameter, Color —            same peduncle.        -   ( 6 ) Color.—When sepals first divide, outside bud petals            with shadings near to Red Group 47B, 50B and 50C.-   B. Bloom:    -   -   ( 1 ) Size.—When open — 8 to 9 cm.        -   ( 2 ) Borne.—per stem clusters of 3 up to 6 per stem.        -   ( 3 ) Form.—Globular.        -   ( 4 ) Petalage.—Average — 48 to 52.        -   ( 5 ) Color.—Early open: outside petals with mixed shadings            near to Red. Purple Group 68A, B, C, D including some            scattered stripes of White Group 155D; inside petals with            same shadings of Red Purple Group 68A, B, C and D, fewer            stripings of White Group 155D are noted. Aging petals            similar to earlier stages with increasing of 68A, B.-   C. Petals:    -   -   ( 1 ) Texture.—Smooth; Substance: Firm.        -   ( 2 ) Form.—Slightly ruffled; wedge shaped; rarely curled at            apex.        -   ( 3 ) Arrangement.—Semi-regular.        -   ( 4 ) Mature size.—Average length: 3.5-4 cm; Average width:            3-3.5 cm.        -   ( 5 ) Center petaloids.—Average 6 to 10. Length: 8-20 mm;            Width: 5-12 mm; Color: Shadings of Red Purple Grp. 68A, B, C            and D.        -   ( 6 ) Persistance.—Holds well; petals drop cleanly at end of            bloom.        -   ( 7 ) Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   ( 8 ) Lasting quality.—On bush: 6-8 days; cut 4-5 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   A. Stamen:    -   -   ( 1 ) Arrangement.—Regular around styles.        -   ( 2 ) Number.—Average — 52-58.        -   ( 3 ) Length.—Average — 3 to 7 mm.        -   ( 4 ) Filaments.—Color — Close to Red Purple Grp. 62B.        -   ( 5 ) Anthers.—Color — Yel. Orange Grp. 22A.        -   ( 6 ) Pollen.—Color — Same as (5).-   B. Pistil:    -   -   ( 1 ) Styles.—Length: 5-13 mm from center of ovary; number            66-74; color: near to Red Purple Grp. 62C; coated with white            hairs.        -   ( 2 ) Stigma.—Color — Close to Yel. Orange Grp. 22C.        -   ( 3 ) Ovary.—Shape — oblong; 5-7 mm center cross section at            sepal base.-   C. Hips: Sets seed. Mature hip: Size: 1½-2 cm; Shape: Round. Color:    Yel. Green 146B with shades near to Red Group 44D.

PLANT

-   A. Form: Upright.-   B. Growth: Vigorous, Height: average 1 m; Width: average 50 cm.-   C. Stem length: Basal break to flower bud tip: average 90-100 cm.-   D. Foliage: Compound of 3 to 5 leaflets on bloom stem; 5 to 7    leaflets on main canes.    -   -   ( 1 ) Quantity.—Stems well covered.        -   ( 2 ) Color.—New foliage: Upper side near to Yel. Green 146B            with slight shading of Greyed Orange 176C on leaf edges;            under side near to Yel. Green 146C. Old foliage: Upper side            near to Yel. Green 147A; under side near to Yel. Green 146B.        -   ( 3 ) Shape.—Mature 5 leaflet: Length: stipule base to tip            of leaflet — 11-12 cm. Center end leaflet: Oval and pointed;            Length: 4½-5½ cm, width: 2½-3 cm.        -   ( 4 ) Texture.—Firm, leathery, matte finish.        -   ( 5 ) Edge.—Serration on outer edge. Average 4 to 5 points            per 1 cm, with up to 1½ mm peak.        -   ( 6 ) Rachis.—Glandular hairs on upper side; none on lower            side; few small prickles on lower side ½-1 mm length.        -   ( 7 ) Stipules.—Length 14-16 mm; auricle to 3-4 mm. Edge of            stipule to tip of auricle with many glandular hairs.-   E. Resistance to disease: Powdery and downy mildew, rust and    blackspot: Excellent.-   F. Wood: New wood — Color close to Yel. Green 146C; shadings near to    Greyed Orange Group 172B; Bark — smooth. Old wood — Color close to    Yel. Green 146B; Bark — smooth.-   G. Prickles: None.-   H. Winter hardiness: Average.

1. A new and distinct rose cultivar of the Floribunda class withessential features as follows:
 1. Prickles are absent from any stems. 2.White stripes lightly scattered on pink flowers.
 3. Blooms in clustersof three to six flowers.
 4. Very consistent free bloomer.
 5. Bushy,upright plant, covered with medium green matte foliage.
 6. Veryresistent to powdery and downy mildew, rust and blackspot, substantiallyas shown herein and described.